EP3331964B1

EP3331964B1 - High temperature fracturing fluids with nanoparticles

Info

Publication number: EP3331964B1
Application number: EP16745354.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Feng Liang; Ghaithan AL-MUNTASHERI; Leiming Li
Original assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Co
Current assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Co
Priority date: 2015-08-04
Filing date: 2016-07-21
Publication date: 2021-06-30
Anticipated expiration: 2036-07-21
Also published as: CN107949617B; WO2017023564A1; KR20180036973A; JP2018527438A; US10550314B2; EP3331964A1; CN107949617A; SA518390853B1; US20170037302A1

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to fracturing fluids, and more specifically relate to fracturing fluids comprising metal oxide nanoparticles.

BACKGROUND

Considerable attention has been devoted to extracting the gas locked within tight subterranean gas formations with permeability in the nano-darcy to micro-darcy range; however, these tight subterranean gas formations are characterized by high temperatures and high pressures. For example, these formations are subject to temperatures around 149 to 204 °C (300 to 400 °F). Traditional hydraulic fracturing fluids may utilize crosslinked polysaccharide gels, such as guar and guar derivatives, to transport proppant from the surface to the desired treatment zone; however, the guar and guar derivatives are unstable at these higher temperatures.
Thermally stable synthetic polymers, such as polyacrylamide, may be used in fracturing fluids at temperatures of 149 to 204 °C (300 to 400 °F); however, these polymers have to be employed at very high concentrations in order to generate enough viscosity to suspend proppant. The high polymer concentrations of these fluids make it very difficult to completely degrade at the end of a fracturing operation. Thus, polymer residue within the gas reservoir can block gas flow.
WO 2012/122505 discloses a method of forming a wellbore fluid including introducing a hydratable polymer and introducing a crosslinker comprised of at least a silica material, wherein the crosslinker has a dimension of about 5-100 nm. EP 2848666 discloses well treatment fluids comprising nanoparticles, and WO 2013/052359 discloses a foam formed from a dispersion comprising nanoparticles and a gaseous reactant for recovery of hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, ongoing needs exist for fracturing fluids that are stable at high temperatures, while reducing polymer residue within subterranean gas formations.
The embodiments of the present disclosure meet these needs by utilizing a high temperature fracturing fluid comprising an aqueous fluid, carboxyl-containing synthetic polymers, metal oxide nanoparticles having a particle size of 0.1 to 500 nanometers; and a metal crosslinker which crosslinks the carboxyl-containing synthetic polymers and the metal oxide nanoparticles to form a crosslinked gel. The metal crosslinker is selected from the group consisting of zirconium crosslinkers, titanium crosslinkers, aluminum crosslinkers, chromium crosslinkers, iron crosslinkers, hafnium crosslinkers, antimony cross linkers, and combinations thereof.
The metal oxide nanoparticles, which may include transition metal oxides or rare earth oxides, increase the viscosity of the fracturing fluid, thereby allowing for a reduction in the concentration of polyacrylamide in the fracturing fluid. By reducing the concentration of polyacrylamide in the fracturing fluid, the fracturing fluid leaves less polymer residue, while maintaining its requisite viscosity at high temperatures, for example, 149 to 204 °C (300 to 400 °F).
Additional features and advantages of the described embodiments will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the described embodiments, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graph of viscosity versus time and temperature for: 1) a fracturing fluid comprising polyacrylamide, Zr-based crosslinker (Type 1), and ZrO₂ nanoparticle dispersion; 2) a fracturing fluid comprising polyacrylamide and a Zr-based crosslinker (Type 1), but no ZrO₂ nanoparticle dispersion; and 3) ZrO₂ nanoparticle dispersion, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2 is another graph of viscosity versus time and temperature for: 1) a fracturing fluid comprising polyacrylamide, Zr-based crosslinker (Type 1), and ZrO₂ nanoparticle dispersion; and 2) a fracturing fluid comprising polyacrylamide and a Zr-based crosslinker (Type 1), but no ZrO₂ nanoparticle dispersion, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIG. 3 is a graph of viscosity versus time and temperature comparing fracturing fluids with varying amounts of ZrO₂ nanoparticle dispersions, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIG. 4 is a graph of viscosity versus time and temperature comparing fracturing fluids with varying amounts of TiO₂ nanoparticle dispersions, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIG. 5 is a graph of viscosity versus time and temperature comparing fracturing fluids with varying amounts of CeO₂ nanoparticle dispersions, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIG. 6 is a graph of viscosity versus time and temperature comparing fracturing fluids with varying amounts of sodium bromate breaker added, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIG. 7 is a graph of viscosity versus time and temperature comparing a fracturing fluid comprising a combination of encapsulated breaker and unencapsulated sodium bromate breaker versus a fracturing fluid without breaker added, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIG. 8 is a graph of viscosity versus time and temperature comparing fracturing fluids with and without sodium bromate breaker added, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIG. 9 is a graph of viscosity versus time and temperature for a sample fracturing fluid with ZrO₂ nanoparticle dispersion, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
FIG. 10 is a graph of viscosity versus time and temperature comparing fracturing fluids with nanoparticles in powder form or dispersion form, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative in nature and not intended to be limiting to the claims. Moreover, individual features of the drawings will be more fully apparent and understood in view of the detailed description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a fracturing fluid according to claim 1, wherein the fracturing fluid is suitable to be injected down a wellbore at a rate and applied pressure sufficient for the fracturing fluid to flow into a subterranean formation and to initiate or extend fractures in the formation.
In one or more embodiments, the fracturing fluid comprises an aqueous fluid, a carboxyl-containing synthetic polymer, a metal crosslinker, and metal oxide nanoparticles. The metal crosslinker is selected from the group consisting of zirconium crosslinkers, titanium crosslinkers, aluminum crosslinkers, chromium crosslinkers, iron crosslinkers, hafnium crosslinkers, antimony cross linkers, and combinations thereof. The metal oxide nanoparticles interact with at least a portion of carboxyl-containing synthetic polymer (also called a base fluid) to exhibit an improved stability and viscosity. The metal oxide nanoparticles, when used in fracturing fluids, increase the viscosity to allow better suspension of the proppant in the fracturing fluid. Proper suspension of the proppant holds the subterranean formation open to allow extraction of the gas or oil without any damage to the subterranean formation.
As used herein, "nanoparticles" means particles having an average particle size of 0.1 to 500 nanometers (nm). In one or more embodiments, the nanoparticles may have an average particle size of 1 to 100 nm, or 1 to 80 nm, or 5 to 75 nm, or 10 to 60 nm.
Various metal oxide nanoparticles are contemplated. The metal oxide of the metal oxide nanoparticles is selected from the group consisting of zirconium oxide, cerium oxide, titanium oxide and combinations thereof. The metal oxide nanoparticles may be added to the fracturing fluid in various forms, such as in powder form or in a dispersion, for example, an aqueous dispersion. As illustrated in Example 10 as follows, it is desirable in some embodiments to add the metal oxide nanoparticles in a dispersion, because it increases crosslinking with the carboxyl-containing synthetic polymer. Moreover, in further embodiments, the metal oxide nanoparticles may be stabilized with a polymer, a surfactant, or a combination thereof. In a specific embodiment, the metal oxide nanoparticles may be stabilized with a polymer, such as polyvinylpyrrolidone.
Similarly, various carboxyl-containing synthetic polymers are contemplated for the fracturing fluid. As used herein, the carboxyl-containing synthetic polymer includes polymers produced from one or more monomers containing carboxyl groups or derivatives thereof, such as salts or esters of the carboxyl containing monomers (e.g., acrylates).
For example, the carboxyl-containing synthetic polymer may be a polyacrylamide polymer. In one or more embodiments, the polyacrylamide polymer and copolymer may comprise a polyacrylamide copolymer, a polyacrylamide terpolymer, or combinations thereof. The polyacrylamide polymer, whether a copolymer, or terpolymer, may include at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, or other monomers containing carboxyl groups or their salts or esters such as acrylates, and combinations thereof. Examples of said acrylates include methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, n-propyl acrylate, isopropyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate, tert-butyl acrylate, n-octyl acrylate, and the like. Other monomers besides the carboxyl-containing monomer may include acrylamide, methacrylamide, N-substituted acrylamides. Further examples of said N-substituted acrylamides include, among others, N-methyl acrylamide, N-propyl acrylamide, N-butyl acrylamide, N,N-dimethyl acrylamide, N-methyl-N-sec-butyl acrylamide. In other embodiments, the carboxyl-containing synthetic polymer may be a partially hydrolyzed carboxyl-containing synthetic polymer. The Examples which follow depict one of many possible suitable examples, a partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide terpolymer. Various percentages of hydrolysis are contemplated as would be familiar to the skilled person.
As stated above, the fracturing fluid also comprises a metal crosslinker which promotes crosslinking between the carboxyl-containing synthetic polymer to form three-dimensional polymer networks. The metal oxide nanoparticles are dispersed within this three dimension polymer network. The metal crosslinker is selected from the group consisting of zirconium crosslinkers, titanium crosslinkers, aluminum crosslinkers, chromium crosslinkers, iron crosslinkers, hafnium crosslinkers, antimony cross linkers, and combinations thereof. The metal crosslinkers may include organic metal oxide complexes.
In one embodiment, the metal crosslinker is a zirconium crosslinker. Examples of zirconium crosslinkers may include a zirconium alkanolamine complex, a zirconium alkanolamine polyol complex. Suitable commercial embodiments of the zirconium crosslinker may include TYZOR® 212 produced by Dorf Ketal Specialty Catalysts LLC.
As stated previously, the metal crosslinker crosslinks the carboxyl-containing synthetic polymers to form a crosslinked gel. Various amounts are contemplated for the crosslinked gel. In one or more embodiments, the fracturing fluid may comprise 0.12 to 12 kg per thousand litres (1 to 100 pounds per thousand gallons) (pptg) of crosslinked gel, or 1.8 to 6 kg per thousand litres (15 to 50 pptg) of crosslinked gel, or 2.4 to 5.4 kg per thousand litres (20 to 45 pptg) of crosslinked gel.
Additionally, various amounts are contemplated for the individual components of the fracturing fluid. For example and not by way of limitation, the fracturing fluid may include 0.12 to 7.2 kg per thousand litres (1 to 60 pptg) of the carboxyl-containing synthetic polymer (e.g., polyacrylamide), or from 0.12 to 6 kg per thousand litres (1 to 50 pptg) of the carboxyl-containing synthetic polymer, or 1.2 to 6 kg per thousand litres (10 from 50 pptg) of the carboxyl-containing synthetic polymer, or from 2.4 to 4.8 kg per thousand litres (20 to 40 pptg) of the carboxyl-containing synthetic polymer. As will be shown further in the Examples, the presence of the metal oxide nanoparticles enables reduction of the carboxyl-containing synthetic polymer by amounts of 5% to 50 % by weight.
Moreover, in further embodiments, the fracturing fluid may comprise from 0.0002% to about 2% by weight of the metal oxide nanoparticles, or from 0.002% to 0.5% by weight of metal oxide nanoparticles, or from 0.005% to 0.2% by weight of metal oxide nanoparticles. Additionally, the fracturing fluid includes from about 0.02% to about 2% by weight of the metal crosslinker.
The fracturing fluid also includes additional additives, for example, additives that alter the salt concentration of the crosslinked gel. In one or more embodiments, brine solution may be added, such as KCl or CaCl₂.
Optionally, the fracturing fluid may also include additional components such as buffers, antioxidants, biocides, clay stabilizers, diverting agents, fluid loss additives, friction reducers, iron controllers, gel stabilizers, etc. The fracturing fluid may further comprise a surfactant, which may be used to lower the surface tension of the fracturing fluid. Various surfactants are contemplated, for example, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, or combinations thereof.
Optionally, the fracturing fluid may also comprise a breaker to degrade the crosslinked gel. The breaker is used to "break" or reduce the viscosity of the fracturing fluid so that the fracturing fluid may be easily recovered from the fracture during clean up. In one or more embodiments, the breaker may be an acid, an oxidizer, an enzyme breaker, a chelating agent, or a combination thereof. Examples of breakers include, but are not be limited to sodium bromate, potassium bromate, sodium persulfate, ammonium persulfate, potassium persulfate, and various peroxides. Additionally, an encapsulant may be used to control or delay the release of the breaker encapsulated or disposed therein. In one or more embodiments, the breaker may include a combination of encapsulated and unencapsulated breaker. For example, the breaker may include a combination of sodium bromate and encapsulated sodium bromate.

EXAMPLES

The various embodiments of the present disclosure will be further clarified by the following examples. The examples are illustrative in nature, and should not be understood to limit the subject matter of the present disclosure.

Table 1 as follows lists the components of the fracturing fluids used in the following Examples 1-10.

Table 1

Product Name/Identifier	Composition/Properties	Supplier
CELB-217-063-2	Partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide terpolymer (80% active)	ChemEOR
CELB-225-010-2	Gel stabilizer/ antioxidant	ChemEOR
DP/EM 5015	Partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide terpolymer (30% active)	SNF
TYZOR 212	Zr-based crosslinker (Type 2)	Dorf Ketal Specialty Catalysts LLC
ZrO₂ nanoparticles dispersion	45-55 nm; 20 wt% active in water	U.S. Research Nanomaterials, Inc
TiO₂ nanoparticles dispersion	Rutile structure; 5-15 nm; 15	U.S. Research Nanomaterials,
	wt% active in water	Inc
CeO₂ nanoparticles dispersion	30-50 nm; 20 wt% active in water	U.S. Research Nanomaterials, Inc
Tetramethyl ammonium chloride (TMAC) dispersion	Clay stabilizer (50 wt % active)
PABA-152L	Acetic acid/acetate buffer	Precision Additives
ProCap BR	Encapsulated sodium bromate breaker	Fritz Industries

Synthesis Methods for Examples 1-6

The crosslinked gel samples of Examples 1-6 were prepared using a Waring® blender. Referring to Table 1, polyacrylamide-based polymer, (for example, CELB-217-063-2, or DP/EM 5015), which is being used as the base fluid, was hydrated in tap water. Additional additives such as buffers, and antioxidant (CELB-225-010-2) may be added to the base fluid followed by the addition of metal oxide nanoparticles (ZrO₂, TiO_2, and CeO₂) and the Zr-based metal crosslinker (Type 1, containing 5.8 wt.% ZrO₂). The samples of Examples 1-6 were generally prepared in a volume of 100 mL. A 52 mL fluid sample was placed into a Grace M5600 HPHT Rheometer equipped with a B5 Bob configuration. Tests were performed using a shear-rate of 40 s^-1 at the temperature profiles depicted in FIGS. 1-6 respectively.

Example 1

As shown in FIG. 1, a viscosity comparison was performed for: 1) a fracturing fluid comprising 3.6 kg per thousand litres (30 pptg) polyacrylamide (CELB-217-063-2), 5 litres per thousand litres (5 gpt) Zr-based crosslinker (Type 1, containing 5.8 wt.% ZrO₂), and a 1 litre per thousand litres (1.0 gpt) ZrO₂ nanoparticle dispersion; 2) a fracturing fluid comprising 3.6 kg per thousand litres (30 pptg) polyacrylamide (CELB-217-063-2) and 5 litres per thousand litres (5 gpt) Zr-based crosslinker (Type 1, containing 5.8 wt.% ZrO₂), but no ZrO₂ nanoparticle dispersion; and 3) a fracturing fluid comprising 3.6 kg per thousand litres (30 pptg) polyacrylamide (CELB-217-063-2), and a 1 litre per thousand litres (1.0 gpt) ZrO₂ nanoparticle dispersion (45-55 nm; 20 wt% active), but no Zr-based crosslinker. The viscosity curves of FIG. 1 demonstrate that the combination of the Zr-based crosslinker and the ZrO₂ nanoparticle dispersion achieves better viscosity stability than when the polyacrylamide is crosslinked with 5 litres per thousand litres (5 gpt) traditional Zr-based crosslinker (Type 1) alone. Without being bound by theory, the interaction between the ZrO₂ nanoparticles and partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide reinforces the crosslinked gel and provides improved viscosity stability for the crosslinked gel.

Example 2

As shown in FIG. 2, another viscosity comparison was performed for: 1) a fracturing fluid comprising 3 kg per thousand litres (25 pptg) polyacrylamide (CELB-217-063-2), 5 litres per thousand litres (5 gpt) Zr-based crosslinker (Type 1, containing 5.8 wt.% ZrO₂), and 1 litre per thousand litres (1.0 gpt) ZrO₂ nanoparticle dispersion (45-55 nm; 20 wt% active); and 2) a fracturing fluid comprising 3.6 kg per thousand litres (30 pptg) polyacrylamide (CELB-217-063-2) and 5 litres per thousand litres (5 gpt) Zr-based crosslinker (Type 1, containing 5.8 wt.% ZrO₂), but no ZrO₂ nanoparticles. As shown, the addition of the ZrO₂ metal oxide nanoparticles enables reduction of the polymer loading by 0.6 kg per thousand litres (5 pptg) (a 17% loading reduction), while increasing and stabilizing the viscosity.

Example 3

As shown in FIG. 3, a viscosity comparison was performed at 149 °C (300 °F) for various fracturing fluids comprising 3.6 kg per thousand litres (30 pptg) polyacrylamide (DP/EM 5015) crosslinked with 5 litres per thousand litres (5 gpt) Zr-bascd crosslinker and ZrO₂ nanoparticle dispersion (45-55 nm; 20 wt% active) at multiple concentrations. Specifically, three samples with the following amounts of ZrO₂ nanoparticles were tested: 1 litre per thousand litres, 2 litres per thousand litres and 3 litres per thousand litres (1.0 gpt, 2.0 gpt and 3.0 gpt, respectively). All three tests performed better than the control sample, which does not include ZrO₂ nanoparticles, thereby indicating that the addition of metal oxide nanoparticles help in stabilizing the viscosity of the fracturing fluid at high temperatures. Surprisingly, the crosslinked gel with addition of 2 litres per thousand litres (2.0 gpt) of ZrO₂ nanoparticles performed the best and remained above 800 cP at the shear rate of 40 s^-1 for more than 180 min at 149 °C (300 °F).

Example 4

As shown in FIG. 4, a viscosity comparison was performed at 149 °C (300 °F) for various fracturing fluids comprising 3.6 kg per thousand litres (30 pptg) polyacrylamide (DP/EM 5015) crosslinked with 0.6 kg per thousand litres (5 pptg) Zr-based crosslinker (Type 1) and a TiO₂ nanoparticle dispersion (Rutile; 5-15 nm; 15 wt% active in a dispersion form) at multiple concentrations. Specifically, three samples with the following amounts of TiO₂ nanoparticles were tested: 1 litre per thousand litres, 2 litres per thousand litres and 3 litres per thousand litres (1.0 gpt, 2.0 gpt and 3.0 gpt, respectively). Similar to the Example 3 samples with ZrO₂ nanoparticles, all three samples with TiO₂ nanoparticles performed better than the control sample, which does not include TiO₂ nanoparticles. Surprisingly, the crosslinked gel with the addition of 1.0 gpt of TiO₂ nanoparticles performed the best and remained above 650 cP at the shear rate of 40 s^-1 for more than 180 min at 149 °C (300 °F).

Example 5

As shown in FIG. 5, a viscosity comparison was performed at 149 °C (300 °F) for various fracturing fluids comprising 3.6 kg per thousand litres (30 pptg) polyacrylamide (DP/EM 5015) crosslinked with 0.6 kg per thousand litres (5 pptg) Zr-based crosslinker (Type 1) and CeO₂ nanoparticle dispersion (30-50 nm; 20 wt% active in a dispersion form) at multiple concentrations. Specifically, three samples with the following amounts of CeO₂ nanoparticles were tested: 1 litre per thousand litres, 2 litres per thousand litres and 3 litres per thousand litres (1.0 gpt, 2.0 gpt and 3.0 gpt, respectively). The crosslinked gel with the addition of 3 litres per thousand litres (3.0 gpt) of CeO₂ nanoparticles performed the best and remained above 1250 cP at the shear rate of 40 s^-1 for more than 150 min at 149 °C (300 °F).

Example 6

As stated previously, an oxidizer type breaker fluid was added separately after the fracturing process to eliminate the polymer residue from the fracture. Referring to FIG. 6, a viscosity comparison was performed at 149 °C (300 °F) for various fracturing fluids having various concentrations of sodium bromate as a breaker. Each crosslinked gel sample included 3.6 kg per thousand litres (30 pptg) polyacrylamide (DP/EM 5015), 0.6 kg per thousand litres (5 pptg) Zr-based crosslinker (Type 1), and 2 litres per thousand litres (2.0 gpt) ZrO₂ nanoparticle dispersion; however, the samples differ in including the following amounts of sodium bromate breaker: zero breaker; 0.06 kg per thousand litres (0.5 pptg) sodium bromate; 0.12 kg per thousand litres (1.0 pptg) sodium bromate; and 0.24 kg per thousand litres (2.0 pptg) sodium bromate. As shown, the lowest concentration sodium bromate sample, 0.06 kg per thousand litres (0.5 pptg), was sufficient to break the crosslinked fracturing fluid.

Synthesis Methods for Examples 7-9

The samples of Examples 7-9 were formulated in accordance with the following procedure. The water analysis for this field water is in Table 2 as follows. The crosslinked gel includes 3.6 kg per thousand litres (30 pptg) polyacrylamide (DP/EM 5015), which was prepared by hydrating 12 grams of DP/EM 5015 in 1 liter of water at 1000 rpm for 30 min. Two water sources have been tested in this strategy, Houston tap water or synthetic field water from one of the Saudi Aramco wells as listed in Table 2. Fluid samples were prepared using a Waring® blender. The fracturing fluid was prepared by taking 100 mL of base fluid, followed by addition of pH adjusting agent, gel stabilizers, nanomaterials, and then Zr-based crosslinker (Type 2). In Table 2 below, the analyzed field water source from Saudi Arabia had total dissolved solids (TDS) amount of about 850 ppm. Table 2

Ion Concentration (mg/L)

Sulfate 126

Cl 461

HCO₃ ^- 231

CO₃ ^2- 12

Ca 0.6

Mg 1.1

Fe 3.22

Example 7

FIG. 7 depicts the effect on viscosity at a temperature of 149 °C (300 °F) when using the combination of an unencapsulated breaker and an encapsulated breaker. As shown, the breaker containing fracturing fluid and the comparative breaker-free fracturing fluid comprises 3.6 kg per thousand litres (30 pptg) DP/EM 5015 (hydrated in Synthetic field water), 1.8 litres per thousand litres (1.8 gpt) 20% acetic acid, 1 litre per thousand litres (1.0 gpt) CELB-225-010-2, 2 litres per thousand litres (2.0 gpt) TMAC, 1.0 gpt ZrO₂ nanoparticle solution, and 0.5 litre per thousand litres (0.5 gpt) Zr-based crosslinker (Type 2). The pH of the fluid is about 5.3. Additionally, the breaker containing fluid includes 0.03 kg per thousand litres (0.25 pptg) sodium bromate and 0.24 kg per thousand litres (2 pptg) ProCap BR. As shown, when no breaker is utilized, there is still some viscosity remaining, which correlates with polyacrylamide residue buildup.

Example 8

FIG. 8 depicts the effect on viscosity at a temperature of 177 °C (350 °F) when using an encapsulated breaker. As shown, the breaker containing fracturing fluid and the comparative breaker-free fracturing fluid includes 3.6 kg per thousand litres (30 pptg) DP/EM 5015, 1.8 litres per thousand litres (1.8 gpt) 20% acetic acid, 2 litres per thousand litres (2.0 gpt) CELB-225-010-2, 2 litres per thousand litres (2.0 gpt) 50% TMAC, 1 litre per thousand litres (1.0 gpt) ZrO₂ nanoparticle solution, and 0.9 litre per thousand litres (0.9 gpt) Zr-based crosslinker (Type 2) (pH∼5.4). The breaker containing fracturing fluid included 0.47 kg per thousand litres (3.9 pptg) ProCap BR encapsulated breaker. Similar to Example 7, when no breaker is utilized as shown in FIG. 8, there is still some viscosity remaining, whereas the breaker reduces the viscosity to essentially zero

Example 9

FIG. 9 depicts the stabilizing effect on viscosity at a temperature of 204 °C (400 °F) when using ZrO₂ nanoparticles. As shown, the fracturing fluid, which includes 3.6 kg per thousand litres (30 pptg) DP/EM 5015 (hydrated in Synthetic field water), 1.8 litres per thousand litres (1.8 gpt) 20% acetic acid, 3 litres per thousand litres (3.0 gpt) CELB-225-010-2, 2 litres per thousand litres (2.0 gpt) 50% TMAC, 1 litre per thousand litres (1.0 gpt) ZrO₂ nanoparticle solution, and 0.9 litre per thousand litres (0.9 gpt) Zr-based crosslinker (Type 2) (pH∼5.4), maintains a viscosity above 500 cP at a shear rate of 40 s^-1 for about 75 min.

Example 10

As shown in FIG. 10, a viscosity comparison was performed at 149 °C (300 °F) for fracturing fluids comprising ZrO₂ nanoparticles in powder or dispersion form. The fracturing fluid samples comprise the following component mixtures:
No nanomaterials: 100 mL 25# DP/EM 5015 in Tap Water, 0.37 mL PABA-152L (acetic acid/acetate buffer), 0.05 mL CELB 225-010-2, 0.2 mL 50% TMAC, and 0.06 mL Zr-based crosslinker (Type 2). The fluid mixture has a final pH of approximately 5.12.
ZrO₂ nanodispersion: 100 mL 25# DP/EM 5015 in Tap Water, 0.1 mL ZrO₂ nanoparticles (45-55 nm; 20% dispersion; contains 20 mg of nanoparticles), 0.37 mL PABA-152L (acetic acid/acetate buffer), 0.05 mL CELB 225-010-2, 0.2 mL 50% TMAC, and 0.06 mL Zr-based crosslinker (Type 2). The fluid mixture has a final pH of approximately 5.30.
ZrO₂ powder: 100 mL 25# DP/EM 5015 in Tap Water, 40 mg ZrO₂ nanoparticles (powder; high purity, 99.95%), 0.37 mL PABA-152L (acetic acid/acetate buffer), 0.05 mL CELB 225-010-2, 0.2 mL 50% TMAC, and 0.06 mL Zr-based crosslinker (Type 2). The fluid mixture has a final pH of approximately 5.32.
Referring to FIG. 10, the addition of 20 mg of ZrO₂ nanoparticles in dispersion form maintains the viscosity above 500 cP at a shear rate of 40 s^-1 for 130 mins, which is a 50% increase compared to the fluid without nanoparticles. Moreover, even with addition of double amount of the ZrO₂ nanoparticle powder, the viscosity improvement (500 cp at 40 s^-1 for 99 min) is less than the viscosity improvement achieved by the samples with 20 mg of ZrO₂ nanoparticles in a dispersion form.

Claims

A fracturing fluid comprising:
an aqueous fluid;

carboxyl-containing synthetic polymers,

metal oxide nanoparticles having a particle size of 0.1 to 500 nanometers; and

a metal crosslinker,
wherein the metal crosslinker is selected from the group consisting of zirconium crosslinkers, titanium crosslinkers, aluminum crosslinkers, iron crosslinkers, hafnium crosslinkers, antimony cross linkers and combinations thereof,

the metal crosslinker crosslinks the carboxyl-containing synthetic polymers to form a crosslinked gel,

wherein the metal oxide nanoparticles are dispersed within the crosslinked gel and the metal oxide nanoparticles consist of metal oxide,

wherein the metal oxide of the metal oxide nanoparticles is selected from the group consisting of zirconium oxide, cerium oxide, titanium oxide, and combinations thereof.
The fracturing fluid of claim 1, wherein the carboxyl-containing synthetic polymers comprise an acrylamide-based polymer.
The fracturing fluid of claim 2, wherein the acrylamide-based polymer comprises a polyacrylamide copolymer, a polyacrylamide terpolymer, a polyacrylamide tetrapolymer, or combinations thereof.
The fracturing fluid of claim 3, wherein the polyacrylamide copolymer includes at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, and acrylic acid derivatives.
The fracturing fluid of claim 1, wherein the fracturing fluid comprises from 0.0002% to 2% by weight of metal oxide nanoparticles.
The fracturing fluid of claim 1, wherein the fracturing fluid comprises from 0.02% to 2% by weight of metal crosslinker.
The fracturing fluid of claim 1, wherein the fracturing fluid comprises from 0.12 to 7.2 kg per thousand litres (1 to 60 pptg) of carboxyl-containing synthetic polymer.
The fracturing fluid of claim 1, wherein the fracturing fluid comprises one or more additives, wherein the additives are selected from the group consisting of buffers, antioxidants, biocides, clay stabilizers, diverting agents, fluid loss additives, friction reducers, iron controllers, gel stabilizers, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, and combinations thereof.
The fracturing fluid of claim 1, wherein the fracturing fluid comprises 0.12 to 12 kg per thousand litres (1 to 100 pptg) of crosslinked gel.
The fracturing fluid of claim 1, further comprising a viscosity breaker to degrade the crosslinked gel; preferably wherein the viscosity breaker is encapsulated for controlled release of the viscosity breaker.
The fracturing fluid of claim 1, wherein the fracturing fluid comprises 0.12 to 12 kg per thousand litres (1 to 100 pptg) of crosslinked gel, wherein the carboxyl-containing synthetic polymer is a polyacrylamide and the crosslinked gel comprises 0.12 to 6 kg per thousand litres (1 to 50 pptg) of the polyacrylamide, and wherein the metal oxide nanoparticles are zirconium oxide nanoparticles, and the metal crosslinker is a zirconium crosslinker.
The fracturing fluid of claim 1, wherein the metal oxide nanoparticles comprise transition metal oxides, rare earth metal oxides or combinations thereof.
The fracturing fluid of claim 1, wherein the metal oxide nanoparticles are in a metal oxide nanoparticle dispersion.